Air Canada Café Review Toronto Pearson Airport [2025]

On a recent short layover between Vancouver and Ottawa, I checked out the Air Canada Café at Toronto Pearson Airport. I’ve been eager to visit this exciting addition to Air Canada‘s business class offering since it opened in late 2019. After several years of closure due to the pandemic, I could finally stop in for a coffee and cold-pressed juice between flights.

Here’s my long-awaited Air Canada Cafe review (also known as the Maple Leaf Cafe) at Toronto Person Airport.

Air Canada Cafe Review – 2025 Update

Since initially posting this Air Canada Cafe review, I have been through a few times, most recently on a layover on my way to Halifax and on a 1-day turnaround trip from Charlottetown, PEI, on Air Canada Rouge business class. I have updated this post to include the latest details, including changes to the Air Canada Cafe menu. Most notable is the addition of alcoholic beverages and really good warm snacks.

Also new in 2025 is the addition of the Montreal Air Canada Cafe. Check out my full review on the YUL Air Canada Cafe here!

Air Canada Cafe Toronto Locations

Also, since initially posting this review, a second Air Canada cafe in Toronto location opened up at the Billy Bishop City airport. This review is focused on the YYZ Pearson Airport location. For my Air Canada Aspire Cafe review, check out my full review here.

The Air Canada Café at YYZ is conveniently located just past security in the domestic terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson Airport. It is on the gate level just below the Plaza Premium Lounge and directly across from gate D20.

The Maple Leaf Cafe is open from 05:15 to midnight daily.

For my visit, it was super convenient to get to. After my red-eye flight, I arrived at gate D26 and flew out of gate D35. The Air Canada Café is pretty much smack dab in between. This was even more convenient as my Air Canada flight arrived two hours late, giving me 30 minutes to check out the café.

Air Canada Café Toronto YYZ Access

The cafe is open to all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge business class passengers as well as Aeroplan Super Eliet, 50K, and 75K status holders. The Café is also open to Star Alliance Gold Members as well as the following Aeroplan branded credit card holders;

• TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
• CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
• American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card
• American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card
• American Express Aeroplan Corporate Reserve Card

On my visit, I was travelling in Business Class through another successful eUpgrade bid. Aeroplan’s dynamic scale on Air Canada flights brought my relatively last-minute booking down from a ridiculous 150K points to 40K points and 4 eUpgrade credits.

On my most recent visit, I had a whopping 4-hours to enjoy the Maple Leaf Cafe. I was flying Air Canada Rouge between Charlottetown and Toronto and opted to use eUpgrades on the return flight so I could update this Air Canada Cafe review as well as see what business class is like in Rouge. This was another 4 credit upgrade and, given my time in the airport, so very worth it.

I suggest going back and reading my post on how to maximize eUpgrade benefits if you need a refresher or tips on how to maximize them for situations like this.

Air Canada Café Service and Amenities

Stepping inside the Maple Leaf Cafe you will first notice automated turnstiles which makes for a speedier experience. Once through you will instantly see that this is not a Maple Leaf Lounge. Gone are the endless seating options, buffet, and self-serve bar. Instead, you will find a cafeteria-like self-serve area stocked with snacks and drinks. In the middle are a couple of seating tables and cozy booth-style benches.

A most notable difference between the Maple Leaf lounges and the Maple Leaf Café is, at least on my visits, the crowd size. Maple Leaf lounges have been very busy lately, with lineups out the door not uncommon. That has not been the case on my visits to the Air Canada Cafe Toronto Pearson location. I counted around 10 people while checking out the space and about 25 at most on my recent extended visit.

To the left of the cafeteria area are the Maple Leaf café’s best features, its barista bar and juice stand. Here, you can sample a variety of espresso drinks and cocktails. To the left are additional seating options and a window overlooking the tarmac. These areas have convenient pop-up-style power plugs with USB ports for charging your devices.

Behind the bar, you will find the washrooms, which are modern in decor. They were kept clean and tidy on all of my visits so no complaints here.

The minimalist approach to the Air Canada Cafe Toronto is a nice change and the lack of a crowd makes for a comfortable spot to hang out and relax or get some work done in between flights.

Air Canada Café Food & Drink

Although you will find many of the same prepackaged wraps, sandwiches, and snacks as you would in the Maple Leaf lounges, there are some exciting and notable additions in the Maple Leaf Café.

For one, there is an excellent selection of healthy drinks by Toronto-based Greenhouse Juice Co. I had the blue lemonade, which was refreshing and much-needed after my redeye flight.

Note: There were no pressed juices on my latest 2024 visit, which was disappointing. Also disappointing is that the Yellow Juice listed on the menu was also unavailable. There is still freshly squeezed orange juice, though.

Over at the bar, you will find an orange juice machine for freshly squeezed OJ. You will also find a display case of pastries, including croissants, scones, and other pastries. For lunch and afternoon service, small bowls of snacks, including potato chips and olives, are also available.

Last but certainly not least is a full menu of coffee drinks and teas. This includes hot and cold drinks by Lavazza with traditional staples like lattes and cappuccinos and eye-catching drinks like cherry cold brew and Creamespresso – a creamy espresso sorbet.

Notably, there is no alcohol on the menu at the Maple Leaf Café. There is, however, a list of mocktails to enjoy.

UPDATE: The cafe now serves alcoholic drinks, including some great-looking cocktails. I enjoyed a caser made with Walter mix, something I don’t think you will find in the lounge. I also noted a variety of canned cocktail mixes, including an Espresso Martini Fizz, Cremore beer, craft cider, and Ace Hill beverages. This is a nice touch and shift away from the lounge’s standard Coors or Canadian beer offering.

Since my flight arrived so late, I was worried about my tight connection and not getting to try anything interesting. Instead, I did like the Italians do and had a quick espresso before continuing. This was all for nothing, as my connecting flight was also delayed. Before heading to my gate, I should’ve waited for the boarding text notification. Hot tip for your visit!

Air Canada Cafe Menu Updates

Since my initial visit, the Maple Leaf Cafe has added good hot snacks. On my lengthy visit, I got to experience both the breakfast and lunch offerings. The Air Canada Cafe menu included hot little cinnamon rolls, proper Montreal-style bagels, and turkey sausage breakfast wraps for breakfast.

As the clock struck 11:30 AM, the Air Canada Cafe menu underwent a notable transformation, transitioning from breakfast to a tempting lunch selection. Among the highlights were the delectable rice croquettes, perfectly complemented by a warm marinara sauce. My anticipation rose with the appearance of empanadas, though their execution left me with a lukewarm impression, thankfully saved by the addition of a zesty green Tapatio hot sauce.

A delightful surprise on the menu was the introduction of little burger sliders, stealing the spotlight with their irresistible taste. Elevating the experience further were the outstanding condiments, featuring a standout guacamole that added a creamy and flavorful touch to the sliders.

In comparing the Air Canada Cafe menu to its counterpart in the lounge upstairs, the difference is evident. The cafe’s offerings boast a level of sophistication and variety that adds a distinct flair to the overall dining experience. The thoughtful curation of flavors and the inclusion of standout items like the sliders underscore the effort to provide passengers with a memorable and satisfying culinary journey.

Maple Leaf Cafe – A Great Grab-and-Go Option

The Air Canada Cafe menu features items you can enjoy in the lounge as well as packaged to take away. Best of all, the Maple Leaf Cafe encourages this with to-go bags available next to the items. On my visit, I grabbed a couple of wraps to go along with some salad as I was heading back to Charlottetown to continue my cross-country EV road trip. I was camping that night so it made for an easy meal prep.

Wrapping Up This Air Canada Cafe Review

Wrapping up this Air Canada Cafe review, all in all, it’s a great addition to the business class services Air Canada offers. With a pronounced emphasis on quality over quantity, this more-is-less approach is about as refreshing as the Greenhouse lemonade I enjoyed on my visit. It’s also incredibly convenient.

Thanks to the automated turnstile, I was in and out in minutes with juice in hand and an espresso pumping through my veins. This is even more appealing given the contrast with the Starbucks queuing at least 12+ people deep outside the Maple Leaf Café Toronto Pearson location.

Well done Air Canada. I will happily return to the Maple Leaf Café and likely choose it over the lounge if crowds continue to mass there.

• READ MORE: Is Westjet Premium Economy Worth It?
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